There’s nothing quite like sipping on a nice cold cocktail on a breezy rooftop bar while taking in dazzling views of DTLA city lights or soothing Pacific Ocean vistas—especially when the days get hotter, or even when the nights get longer.
L to the A is the perfect place for day drinking with friends and romantic date nights cuddled up together on one of the many fabulous hidden rooftop hotspots in town. Escape the smog to truly take in a beautiful California sunset all with some of the best booze to be found on the West Coast before heading to one of the best restaurants in LA. Here are our five favorite rooftop bars in Los Angeles.
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Our Picks For Best Rooftop Bars In L.A.
Photo credit: standardhotels.com
1. Standard Downtown
Plunge deep into sun and fun inside one of the bright red waterbed pods scattered across this Downtown hotspot on the roof Andre Balaz’s infamously hip hotel. Take the elevator up to the top to find mod furnishings that give the space a super cool modern vibe, which is actually the perfect backdrop for the Millennial crowd that usually checks out the lively scene.
Hotel guests can spend their weekend afternoons doing some major cocktail lounging as well! Be sure to try the sweet and sour Hennessy Lemonade, which has been known to get lines to stretch all the way out into the parking for (despite its hefty twenty-dollar cover charge after 7pm!). It’s that good.
The Standard Downtown is located at 550 S. Flower Street in Downtown Get started by finding a great vacation rental in Los Angeles
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2. Perch LA
Looking for a romantic date spot with a stellar view? How about a sky high spot to enjoy mimosas before brunch? Well, Perch has got everything and anything that you’ll need. Up fifteen floors from the ground, this French0inspired rooftop bar and bistro offers unobstructed views of downtown L.A. and provides patrons with plenty of plush sofas, velour bar stools, outdoor fireplaces, and vibrant fire pits.
Drop in for happy hour-- dubbed Apéritif Hour-- with the after work crowd to sip on Parisian-inspired cocktails, great wines, and craft beer inside an eclectic boudoir-themed bar. Make sure to sample a tasty French by-the-glass pour and feel super classy by picking and choosing from a rare selection of French Cordials, Armagnac’s, and Cognacs. There’s even tons live jazz music out on the patio to enjoy, as well as DJs spinning out jams well into the night.
Perch is located at 448 S Hill Street in Downtown Get started by finding a great vacation rental in Los AngelesGet started by finding a great vacation rental in Los Angeles
Image credit: discoverlosangeles.com
3. Upstairs at ACE Hotel
Sipping cocktails within the presence of ornate Spanish Gothic-style architecture and sweeping views of DTLA truly is a wonderful way to spend any afternoon, evening, or even morning for that matter! Cozy up with your snuggle bunny beneath a Moroccan-inspired canopy while enjoying live music. Or why not just lounge poolside while jiving to a DJ that spins awesome beats on an uber cool open-air roof deck that sometimes even hosts pop-up boutiques and other special events?! There’s even craft beer, lots of wine, and a seasonally rotating selection of cocktails that are always based around a specific theme. Rad.
Make sure to stop by the "Friends with Benefits" events, which features top bartenders from around the country hosting a special night of tasty cocktails, elevated bar snacks, pressed sandwiches, and weekend brunches. There’s no hipper urban point around. So head on over to the trendy Ace Hotel for a “Lefty Lucy,” a surprisingly easy-to-drink mix of chile liqueur, peach liqueur, ginger, lime and yellow chartreuse. Gulp.
Upstairs is located at 929 S. Broadway in Downtown Get started by finding a great vacation rental in Los AngelesGet started by finding a great vacation rental in Los Angeles
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4. Mama Shelter
It’s a colorful space splattered to the tee with multicolored chairs and sofas, as well as a nice Mediterranean-inspired menu that’s got everything from falafel to salmon skewers and an array of hummus options. Head on over for a Mediterranean adventure with drinks like the Mediterranean Mule or Za'atar Margarita. You’ll even love dancing underneath the shiny stars on warm summer nights as various DJs spin stellar tunes—even get the chance to watch a classic movie on their outdoor screen!
What’s more is that there’s a yoga studio, a foosball table, and, of course, a laid-back vibe and killer views of Hollywood. Relax and unwind at the L.A. outpost with a “Fiddler on the Roof” cocktail (made with Goslings rum, Ancho Reyes, grapefruit, pomegranate molasses, and lime), as well as those tasty “shawarmama" dishes (French-Moroccan-inflected meat and veggie skewers with cauliflower hummus).
Mama Shelter is located at 6500 Selma Avenue in Get started by finding a great vacation rental in Los AngelesGet started by finding a great vacation rental in Los Angeles
Image credit: californinanightlife.com
5. Skybar
With an oh so secret Sunset Strip entryway, it’s one of the rare poolside bars that truly started it all. The Mondrian's Skybar offers sweeping views and opportunities to take a dip in their pool. It truly is a hotspot for crowds of all ages-- a Mexican-style oasis of flowering walls and gorgeous nooks all in the heart of WeHo.
Enjoy a specially made mojito and don’t forget to take part in indulgent pop-ups like the Ceviche Project. And really, it’s got a view like no other. For reals.
Skybar is located at 8440 Sunset Boulevard in Get started by finding a great vacation rental in Los Angeles
Get started by finding a great vacation rental in Los Angeles
This article was written by Pamela Chan.